Today, Digni and our Danish sister organisation, the Centre for Church-based Development (CKU), proudly launch the landmark report “Freedom of Religion or Belief in Practice: Insights for Impact” at a hybrid conference in Copenhagen.
The report marks the culmination of an eight-month learning review, analysing 42 development projects that promote freedom of religion or belief (FORB) around the world. With around 30 participants gathered in Copenhagen and more than 80 joining online, the event highlights the strong and growing international commitment to advancing FORB through development cooperation.
The review was conducted by a diverse team of international experts in Freedom of Religion or Belief (FORB) and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL). The team examined not only how the projects were implemented and what impact they achieved, but also how results were documented and assessed. Drawing on desk studies, surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions, the report identifies effective strategies, recurring challenges, and key lessons across the portfolio.
Among the main findings are the pivotal role of community stakeholders in shaping project design and framing FORB, the need for long-term engagement to achieve structural change, and the value of locally contextualized MEL frameworks. The report also features a catalogue of good practices and a set of concrete recommendations for practitioners, grant holders, and donors alike.
“Effective, safe, and sustainable FORB programming requires long-term commitment and an adaptive iterative approach to gradually widen the boundaries of dialogue” says Indira Aslanova, leading the review team.
Projects in the two portfolios use a wide range of strategies and approaches to promote FORB. An intersectional framing of FoRB allowed projects to connect with diverse audiences and address barriers related to identity and inclusion.
“The report captures both the challenges and the quiet transformations that take place when values of dignity, coexistence, and justice are lived out in communities. For FORB practitioners it provides lessons that are deeply grounded in context and rich with hope for more inclusive and peaceful societies.” says Fred Nyabera, an experienced FORB trainer and a part of the advisory panel of the review and the online host of the launch.
Marie Juul Petersen from the Danish Institute of Human Rights and also a part of the advisory panel comments “The report offers a rich and evidence-based analysis of how FoRB programming can foster meaningful change in complex and often restrictive environments. It highlights the transformative impact of locally led initiatives, interfaith collaboration, and inclusive approaches—demonstrating that strategic, context-sensitive investments in FoRB not only advance human rights but also strengthen social cohesion, gender equality, and democratic participation.”
During the launch, the review team shared their findings which were discussed eagerly around the tables in the meeting hall of CKU and in breakout rooms for the online participants. The conversation was enriched by the insights from partner organisations who participated in the review together with reflections from donors and academia.
The report states that the collective achievements highlighted in the review demonstrate the transformative power of FoRB-focused initiatives when they are built on a foundation of trust, collaboration, and locally informed program design.
Shabnam Moallem, research manager and researcher in the review team argued “One of the unique strengths we have seen across the portfolio is the high level of trust between partners and grantholders (member organisations of Digni and CKU). Having FORB as a shared goal and concern enables this trust to be established.”
Lisa Winther, representing Digni in the review process, says: “It is very encouraging to see the important outcomes the FORB projects in our portfolio has had and the high level of trust they have in their contexts. The report is a timely response to the growing demand for knowledge-based approaches in development cooperation and will certainly help both our partner organisations and others to deepen our impact and further advance FORB for all globally”.
In January 2026, the review team will follow up with a Localized FORB Indicators Tool. The tool can guide practitioners to develop locally defined indicators for their FoRB programs and use them to align approaches for measuring change in monitoring and evaluation of FoRB projects to the local realities of communities.
This joint initiative between Digni and CKU not only showcases the achievements of FORB projects over the past five years but also sets a forward-looking agenda for improving implementation and documentation. The report is a testament to the power of collaborative learning and offers valuable insights for practitioners, donors, and policymakers committed to advancing freedom of religion or belief in development work.
Read the report here:
